Art in public space - Open competition for the design of the grave and memorial site for LGBTI* deceased persons

Program description

Schwulenberatung Berlin is planning the design and construction of a grave and memorial site in Berlin at the listed Alter Sankt-Matthäus-Kirchhof -Großgörschenstraße- in Schöneberg.

At the Old St. Matthew's Churchyard in Berlin-Schöneberg, Gay Counseling Berlin is creating a place where people from the LGBTI* community can be buried with dignity. This place is intended to offer space for mourning and remembrance and at the same time serve as a visible symbol of the appreciation of the LGBTI* community in Berlin. The memorial offers space for up to 10 coffins and 100 urns.

The burial site is intended to be a visible expression of appreciation for the LGBTI* community. It is aimed at people who belong to the community or feel they belong to it - regardless of financial means. The names, dates of birth and death of the deceased will be engraved on a memorial wall with plaques.

There will also be a digital memorial book with the names and biographies. There will be a memorial service twice a year, during Pride Month and on the Sunday of the Dead. The names of the most recently deceased will then also be engraved.

No compensation will be paid for the preparation and timely submission of the competition entries. A maximum gross budget of €80,000 is available for the design and realization of the grave and memorial site, including the erection of the wall and the artists' fees. If necessary, the budget can be increased by €30,000 by the cemetery administration for the work on the adjacent existing graves (walls).

Institution

Gay Counseling Berlin gGmbH

The underlying philosophy of Schwulenberatung Berlin is that of the humanistic understanding of man: every individual or system carries within itself the resources necessary for further development and primarily needs a framework in order to be able to go through the processes necessary for the unfolding of these immanent potentials. Human experience and action always strive for growth, expansion and perfection. With its various services, Gay Counseling Berlin aims to provide a framework in which the necessary processes can take place.

Deadline

The competition entries must be submitted by May 16, 2025 by 6 p.m.

Funding period

• Jury meeting / decision in June 2025
• Implementation from July 2025 - December 2025
• Planning/construction to start in summer 2025 if possible. The burial site should be ready for use from the end of 2025.

Funding types (non-commercial)

Participation

Funding criteria

The section of wall to be designed is part of the cemetery wall, which forms the southern end of the cemetery grounds. This wall borders directly on Monumentenstraße. A few years ago, this section of wall had to be demolished due to the risk of collapse. This section of wall is to be rebuilt over a length of approx. 10 meters and a height of 3-4 meters. The length is determined by the neighboring graves. There is an area of approx. 30 m² in front of the wall that is intended for burials. A seating area is desirable. Planting or an enclosure and a central place for flowers are also possible. The design and implementation (color, materials, planting, fencing) must be carried out in consultation with the cemetery administration, the monument protection authority and the Berlin Gay Advisory Service.

Additional conditions

From the point of view of the monument protection authority, the following should be observed:

• The new grave architecture must blend in with the listed surroundings.
• A new back wall for the grave can be erected. This should be made of brick (exposed brickwork or plastered masonry). The height should be based on the neighboring "Loewe" facility.
• Side walls can be placed, the back wall of the grave should be divided into 3 parts. - The middle section of the back wall can be raised with an arch or triangular shape. The height of the structure can be based on the "Messel" complex.
• A structural enclosure of the grave site should be created that is based on the existing borders (sleepers, grave grids).
• Inscription plaques and slabs with inscriptions should be based on the surrounding grave architecture.
• The grave planting is to be chosen to be typical of the location; seating on the grave site is permitted to a reduced extent.

Application type

by mail

Application procedure/documents

All work must be shown on one DIN A1 sheet in portrait format.
This must include

• Site plan of plot M 1:100 / 1:50 northing
• Floor plan, at least two views, longitudinal and cross-sectional views
• Color and material concept
• Sketches to explain the design idea / free representation
• One axonometry / perspective - free representation max. DIN A4, no photorealistic representation
• Textual explanation of the artistic concept max. 1 page DIN A4
• Schedule and cost overview for the realization of the entire project max. 1 page DIN A4

Competition entries must be submitted by May 16, 2025 by 6 p.m. at Gotenstr. 51, 10829 Berlin, in person or by post. Submissions received after this date will not be considered.

Jury/Decision-making body

The competition entries are judged by a jury in two stages.

In the first step, all works are assessed by the jury and an initial selection is made. In the second step, the selected artists will have the opportunity to present their ideas in person. This date is expected to be Friday, June 13, 2025. 2025. The jury will then make the decision in a closed procedure. The aim is to award a prize to a work that is recommended for realization.

The jury consists of people from the artistic, landscape and architectural fields, the cemetery administration and the Berlin Gay Advisory Service.

Assistance/Downloads

Queries by e-mail: m.degroot@schwulenberatungberlin.de

Documents made available on the website:

• Site plan (entire cemetery)
• Site plan of the plot
• Views, sections from the existing cemetery with neighboring graves
• photos
• History of the site at: https://www.zwoelf-apostel-berlin.de/die-kirchhofe/alter-st-matthaus-kirchhof

Funding area

District, State of Berlin